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Women's urine exits from?

Dear Alice,

Does urine exit the female body from the vagina or the clitoris?

Dear Reader,

Ahh, the mysterious female anatomy. Fortunately, there is an easy answer to your question: Neither! Urine exits from a separate body part called the urethra, or the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the urethral opening. The urethral opening is the hole that is below the clitoris and above the vaginal opening. You can refer to diagrams in human sexuality and anatomy text books to help make this more clear, or read the directions for using tampons since they have illustrations and information that you might find useful.

Female anatomy can be pretty confusing since there is a lot going on "down there." Women, unfortunately, are not encouraged to look at their vulva and identify their many intricate, delicate, and powerful parts. Getting to know your own genitals is really important, much in the way regular breast and testicular self-exams help women and men understand what is normal for them. That way, they have a reference point so that when, and if, there are any changes, they can identify them. Body knowledge is body power!

If you have questions about your own body, you may want to reach for a mirror, a flashlight, and some alone time to explore your "down under." If this question refers to a female partner's anatomy, perhaps you can explore and unravel this mystery together.